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There’s been widespread speculation this offseason that the Reds would likely need to trade away one of their four starting pitchers entering the final year of their contracts in order to free up some payroll. What has not been discussed — but is apparently a possibility, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro — is moving shutdown closer Aroldis Chapman.

Though purely speculation at this point, Frisaro discusses the Marlins as a potential fit for the fireball-throwing left-hander. Chapman is projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make $8.3 million in arbitration for next season and then has another year of arbitration eligibility before potentially hitting the free agent market following the 2016 season.

All things considered, it would certainly take a significant haul to land the 26-year-old Chapman, who is already regarded as one of the top closers in the game and is under team control — at an afforadable rate, no less — for the next two years.

The more likely scenario for the Reds is moving one of their starting pitchers. Staff ace Johnny Cueto is set to make $10 million in his option year next season, while Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon are all third-year arbitration eligible. In other words, all four of those starters will be free agents following the 2015 season.

The Reds remain in the market for a left fielder, though it’s becoming increasingly likely that they will need to move at least one pitcher in order to free up enough payroll to either trade for or sign a player to fill that void. The four starters mentioned above make the most sense, but if the club ultimately ends up in firesale mode this offseason, Chapman’s name could enter the discussions.

The Giants are reportedly “dead set” against offering Chase Headley a four-year deal, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.

If true, that would figure to significantly decrease the Giants’ chances of landing Headley, who has been reported to already have a four-year, $65 million offer in hand from an unidentified team. Regardless of the validity of that four-year, $65 million offer, Headley is likely to be able to find a four-year deal somewhere on the market.

The Yankees are the team that stands to benefit the most from the Giants’ apparent unwillingness to offer a fourth year. Though the Marlins and Astros have also been linked to Headley in recent days — and one of those two could very well be the mystery club that already has an offer out — the Yankees and Giants have been considered strong favorites ever since Pablo Sandoval signed with the Red Sox earlier this offseason.

The Red Sox have reportedly extended a one-year offer to free agent right-hander Justin Masterson, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

The Red Sox are pursuing Masterson as a potential starter, not a relief option. That said, they are certainly not alone in their pursuit. It was reported on Monday by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman that the Rangers also have an offer in to Masterson, while a number of other teams, including the Marlins, White Sox, Royals, Giants, Cubs, Tigers, Indians and Twins are all known to have interest as well.

Teams are banking on a bounceback year for Masterson, who is coming off a season in which he posted an unsightly 5.88 ERA over 28 injury-hampered outings (25 starts) between the Indians and Cardinals. Now seemingly healthy, teams are hoping to find a bargain with a one- or two-year deal for the 29-year-old righty.

There is “optimism” that a Chase Headley deal gets done on Tuesday, according to a tweet by Peter Gammons of Gammons Daily. The same tweet lists the Giants and Yankees as potential landing spots.

This backs up a similar report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post on Monday that said Headley will make his decision at some point this week, while adding that the Yankees and Giants are “among 3-4 teams bidding.” Jon Heyman of CBS Sports indicates that the Yankees are in a good position to bring back Headley.

The Marlins and Astros are among the other teams that have also been rumored to have interest in recent days. Headley has reportedly had a four-year, $60 million offer in hand from an unidentified team for nearly a week now.

Free agent right-hander Justin Masterson has already met with the Red Sox and is expected to hold meetings with the Marlins, White Sox and possibly Cubs during this week’s Winter Meetings, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. At least three other teams — the Royals, Giants and Twins — have displayed varying amounts of interest in Masterson.

Masterson, who will turn 30 next March, is coming off a diastrous, injury-plagued season in which he went 7-9 with an unsightly 5.88 ERA over 28 combined outings (25 starts) between the Indians and Cardinals. The righty, however, was the Indians’ ace in 2013, making his first All-Star appearance while racking up a 14-10 record to go with a 3.45 ERA.

Now seemingly healthy, Masterson could be a legitimate bounceback candidate. It’s with that in mind that teams are hoping to find a bargain with what is likely to be a one- or two-year deal.

Masterson was drafted by the Red Sox in 2006 and broke into the big leagues with Boston in 2008. He pitched one-and-a-half seasons for the Sox before being traded to the Indians at the 2009 Trade Deadline. Given that history, Masterson is familiar with current Cubs executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer from those days together in Boston.

The Cubs, however, have reportedly signed free agent Jason Hammel and remain focused on landing Jon Lester, who’s expected to announce a decision no later than Tuesday. The actual market for Masterson, like any pitcher still on the market, should become more clear once Lester announces his decision.

The Giants are reportedly looking at Jed Lowrie as a potential option at third base in the event that Chase Headley decides to sign elsewhere, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

Though primarily a shortstop over his first seven big league seasons, Lowrie is open to the idea of also playing second base or third base. Each of his 129 starts in the field for the A’s last season came at shortstop, though he has made 83 appearances at third base and 58 at second base during his career.

It was reported earlier Monday by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart that the Astros are interested in a reunion with Lowrie, while Crasnick adds that the Marlins could be another potential landing spot.

Lowrie seems to be developing a significant amount of interest in recent days and his market would only develop further if Headley was to make a decision in the near future.

The Marlins have reportedly reached out to veteran starter Jake Peavy’s camp this offseason, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

The market for Peavy has been relatively quiet thus far, as teams seemingly wait to see what happens with top starters Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields. The next tier of free agent starters includes Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Ervin Santana, Justin Masterson, Edinson Volquez and Chris Young.

Peavy figures to settle in somewhere as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Though he’s still considered to be capable of serving in that role on a contender, as he did this past season with the Giants, his veteran presence could also help a young team such as the Marlins.

Aside from the Marlins’ apparent interest in Peavy, a return to the Giants remains a possibility, while the Pirates, Royals, and Cubs are also known to be in the market for starting pitchers.

The Royals completed a pair of transactions involving their bullpen on Friday.

Kansas City signed right-hander Jason Frasor to a one-year contract for 2015 with a mutual option for 2016. Hours later, the Royals dealt right-hander Aaron Crow to the Marlins in exchange for Minor League pitchers Brian Flynn and Reid Redman.

Frasor’s deal is worth $1.25 million with a potential $500,000 in performance bonuses for next year, reports MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel. The mutual option for ’16 is for $2 million plus $500,000 in performance bonuses, with a $550,000 buyout. All told, Frasor is guaranteed at least $1.8 million.

Frasor, 37, became an important piece in the bullpen after being acquired from the Rangers in a July trade. He pitched well for Kansas City down the stretch, going 3-0- with a 1.53 ERA. Frasor followed that up with a strong postseason, posting a 1.69 ERA and earning victories in the American League Wild Card game against the A’s and Game 3 of the AL Championship Series against the Orioles.

Frasor’s emergence prompted the Royals to leave Crow off the postseason roster, and now Crow has found a new team with the Marlins.

Crow, 28, was 6-1 with a 4.12 ERA and three saves over 67 relief appearances with the Royals in 2014. He was drafted and developed by Kansas City and was an All-Star in his rookie season of 2011. Since then, his 20 wins are tied for the second-most among AL relievers.

John Danks was scheduled to take the mound as expected Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park, despite rumors connecting the White Sox to the Yankees and the Marlins in regard to talks concerning the veteran southpaw. Danks has $28.50 million remaining over the next two years of his five-year extension, and can block trades to the Blue Jays, A’s, Orioles, Nationals, Cubs and Mets.

The Red Sox did nothing to diminish rumors that Jon Lester will be traded to a contender when they scratched him from Wednesday night’s start against the Blue Jays.

“Yeah, Brandon Workman will start tomorrow,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “In light of all the uncertainty surrounding Jon Lester, it’s probably in everyone’s best interests that he does not make that start, so Brandon will be recalled. There will be a corresponding move roster-wise at some point tomorrow.”

By scratching Lester from his Wednesday start, the Red Sox could increase the urgency of their suitors to sweeten their offer in advance of Thursday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Also, Lester becomes more attractive to a potential suitor if he can pitch immediately after a trade, rather than having to wait until Monday.

Numerous teams have talked to the Red Sox about Lester, and there was a lot of buzz about the Pirates on Tuesday. The Dodgers are another possible destination, though they’ve thus far been unwilling to part with the type of top prospects (Corey Seager, Joc Pederson) the Red Sox seek. The Marlins have also expressed interest, according to Jim Bowden of MLB Network radio.

While Red Sox veterans were still hoping the lefty would stay, they were bracing for the possibility of his exit.

“Yeah, it’s tough,” said Dustin Pedroia, who came up with Lester through the farm system and has won a pair of World Series titles with him. “We’re not teammates – we’re family. It’s something you don’t like going through. It makes you feel worse. We don’t want to be in this position. I know a lot of guys feel that if you play up to your capability … we should be adding instead of subtracting. Hopefully he’s here.”

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